Orchiopexy for Testicular Torsion: How to Care for Your Child After Surgery

When a boy has testicular torsion, one of his testicles twists inside the scrotum. This blocks blood flow to the testicle and can cause permanent damage. Your son has had surgery to untwist the testicle and stitch both testicles to the scrotum. This will help prevent the testicles from getting twisted again.

• Your son should have only clear liquids like broth, gelatin, and watered-down juice for several hours. When he can take clear liquids without vomiting, he can try light, non-greasy foods. Tomorrow, your son can return to his regular diet.

• Give your son any prescribed medicines as directed.

• If the surgeon prescribed pain medicine, give it as directed. Don't give your son acetaminophen (such as Tylenol® or a store brand) with prescription pain medicines without asking your surgeon or pharmacist first.

• If your son was given antibiotic ointment, it should be applied to his incision 2–3 times a day.

• Don't let your son take a bath, shower, or swim until the surgeon says it's OK. Until then, he should take a sponge bath.

• If there is a surgical dressing (bandage), remove it as directed by the surgeon.

• Allow tape strips or medical glue to fall off on their own. This usually takes 7 to 10 days.

• Some bruising of the scrotum after surgery is normal. But watch for signs of infection such as increased redness or swelling, or yellow or green pus.

• The surgeon may recommend that your son wear a jockstrap for the first few days after surgery.

• Your son should not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds (about the weight of a gallon of milk) or participate in gym class, rough play, or other sports until the surgeon says it's OK. Teen boys also should not masturbate or have sex until then.

• Make a follow-up appointment as instructed.

• Your son has a fever.

• The incision becomes redder or more swollen.

• The incision has blood or pus coming from it.

• Your son has pain even after taking pain medicine.

• Your son is throwing up a lot and cannot keep liquids down.

• You have questions or concerns.

Your son:

• has trouble breathing

• has a lot of bleeding that can't be stopped

Why does testicular torsion require surgery? When the blood supply is cut off to a testicle for more than a few hours, the testicle can be permanently damaged. Surgery is done to untwist the testicle. Attaching the testicles to the scrotum helps prevents torsion from happening again.

What is testicular torsion? When a boy has testicular torsion, one of his testicles turns around inside the scrotum. The cord that contains blood vessels twists and cuts off the testicle's blood supply. When the blood supply is cut off to a testicle for more than a few hours, the testicle can be permanently damaged.

Some boys are born with a condition called bell clapper deformity that makes the testicles more likely to twist because they're not attached normally to the scrotum.

How does surgery help? Surgery is done to untwist the testicle. Attaching the testicles to the scrotum helps prevents torsion from happening again.